Enrollment at MCCC is up 1.4 percent for Winter semester, going from 3,012 this time last year to 3,055 this semester, reversing a long-time downward trend.
The 2016 Winter semester enrollment was down for the sixth year in a row.
Credit and contact hours are down by negligible amounts, less than a percent each, according to Tracy Vogt, the college registrar.
According to the Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers, the MCCC increase places the college fifth in enrollment growth among community colleges in the state.
“It’s because of our relationships with the high schools,” President Kojo Quartey said. “We’re doing more direct college courses, where we’re teaching college classes at the high schools. It’s geared more towards younger students taking classes with us.”
He believes another part of the growth is due to the passing of the millage during the recent election, which he says passed by over 2,000 votes.
“It shows that our community believes in us. They trust us,” Quartey said. “They believe that we provide a high-quality education. That’s why many people voted yes for the millage.”